Product display package



g- 1967 R. c. FRANKELNBERG ETAL PRODUCT DISPLAY PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 7, 1964 5 w Z n fm m M w fimwz 6222/22 Jar/266 6. 12161572,

g- 15, 1967 R. c. FRANKENBERG ETAL 3,335,848

PRODUCT DISPLAY PACKAGE Filed Dec. 7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 avg...

Babe/Z Cffan/Zembe 1722 new L.

Ja 6 CA 7 06472, M; @m KLZ W 71 W 3,335,848 PRODUCT DISPLAY PACKAGERobert C. Frankenberg, 311 S. Edward, Mount Prospect,

Ill. 60056; Francis L. Stahr, 214 Maple Road, Barrington, 11]. 60010;and James C. Tobin, 1257 Pine, Glenview, Ill. 60025 Filed Dec. 7, 1964,Ser. No. 416,580 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-4534) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aproduct display package including interlocking first and second frameinstructu-res, each frame structure having a sheet of light transmittingload bearing material, the frame structures being formed to engage oneanother contiguously at their rim portions, the product being retainedimmobily in the display package by the sheets.

The present invention relates to a product display package and inparticular to a modular food tray for displaying and preservingperishable food products.

In recent years, the methods employed in the marketing of perishableproducts, including vegetables and meats, have changed from theindividual-counter service type sales to the prepackaged self-servicedisplay type sales. Specifically, and by way of ilustration, prepackingmethods presently employed for the wrapping and display of meatproducts, for example, prescribes the butchering of the animal carcassinto the individual cuts of meat, placing those cuts of meat onindividual paperboard, plastic, or pulp trays, or die cut boardsoverwrapping the cut of meat on the tray or board with a trasparen-tfilm, such as cellophane, rubber hydrochloride, polyethylene,polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride or like films, and heat sealing thefolds of the sheet of film to itself on the bottom side of the tray.

This type of packaging in its most rudimentary form is hand-wrapped andheat sealed using a hot plate or hand iron, and in the most elaborateform is done automaticaly with wrapping machines. The former method,inasmuch as it is done by hand, is dependent for its success upon theskill or physio-motor ability of the packager in seeing to it that thepackage is properly sealed without the package being burned or thepackage being ruptured. The latter method of employing automaticequipment is most satisfactory in its operation but does require asubstantial investment in money and is suited only for the large volumetypes of packaging operations.

Another disadvantage of this type of prepackaging is that the tray usedis in most instances completely opaque and even in those instances wherea transparent or translucent tray is employed, the multiple fold of filmon the bottom side of the tray in the area of heat sealing so distortsthe transparency as to render the bottom of the tray, for all practicalpurposes, substantially opaque. This is significant, particularly in themarketing of meat products, because the purchaser is impressed by, andpurchases mainly on the strength of, the appearance of the meat. To thewise purchaser, a display of just one side of the cut is considered totell less than half the story because in most marketing operations, thepurchaser assumes that the best side of the meat is placed face up andthe worst side of the meat is placed face down on the tray. This is sowidely recognized as a truism that some merchandisers having no way ofadequately display both sides of the prepackaged product and having noother way to combat this suspicion, have been led to advertise that intheir packaged products, the worts side of the product is packaged faceup. Thus this problem of adequately dis- 3,335,848 Patented Aug. 15,1967 playing prepackaged meats is a real and continuing one, and aproblem to which this invention directs itself.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedpackaging system for perishable foods, such as meats, which will providea clear and convenient display of both sides of a cut of meat. It is afurther ob ject of the invention to provide a high visibility packagingarrangement which is as rigid and strong as it is visible and providesat the same time, adequate protection for the meat when on display andwhen being handled in the market.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rigid strong maxi-mumvisibility packaging system which can be manually executed withoutdanger to the packager or without the requirement of expensiveequipment.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a proper displaypackage made up of a pair of cooperating frames or shallow trays typestructures wherein the pan portion of each frame may be a layer of lighttransmitting load bearing material and wherein the material for one ofsaid frames may be of the flexible type.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a packagingsystem including a pair of cooperating covered frame wherein the framescan be adapted to accommodate different heights and volumes of productby variating the amount and type of stretchable material or film used incovering the frames.

Further objects and features of the invention pertain to the particulararrangement and structure whereby the above identified and other objectsof the inventon are attained. The invention, both as to its structureand mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to thefollowing specification and drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a modular food frame in accordancewith the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the arangement shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a separated view in cross-section of the portions of themodular food frame shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are variations of the same arrangement shown inFIGURE 1;

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 illustrate arrangements of an alternative form of thefood frame in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate variations of the arrangement set forth inFIGURES l and 3, respectively;

FIGURE 12 and FIGURUE 13 each illustrate further adaptations of theprinciples set forth in FIGURE 11; and

FIGURE 14 illustrates another locking arrangement that can be utilizedin the arrangement of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown therein a packagingarrangement which is basically an interlocking top and bottom frameworkwherein each of the top and bottom frames includes :a sheet oftransparent or translucent film. Turning specifically to FIGURES 1, 2and 3, and as best shown in FIGUURE 3, there is illustrated anarrangement including a shallow covered frame 10 and a mating coveredframe 20. Each 0 fthe frames is substantially rectangular inconfiguration, although they could be circular or triangular or of anyother suitable geometric design. The frame 10 includes a horizontal panportion 11 and a surrounding rirn portion 12 integrally connectedthereto. The uppermost portion of the rim 12 is surmounted by aninwardly extending lip 13.

The pan portion 11 is made up of a sheet of transparent film 14- firmlysecured to the bottom portions of the rim 12, and may, but notnecessarily, include rib portions 15 integrally formed with the rim 12.The utilization of ribs 15 will depend in part on the characteristic ofthe film 14, on the size of the pan and on the anticipated load to becarried by the pan. Certainly, and for most circumstances, if a heavycellophane or a plastic film were employed for the sheet 14-, in mostusages the rib portions would not be required. The rim portion 12 incross-section forms an obtuse angle with the pan portion 11 in order topermit nesting between a plurality of stacked frames 10 and also toaccommodate therein the particularly formed frame The frame 20 includesa pan portion 21 and a rim portion 22 wherein the pan portion iscomprised essentially of a sheet of transparent material 23 havingpreferably stretch characteristics. At its ends the sheet of transparentmaterial 23 is rigidly secured to the rim 22 at the outside surfaces 24thereof. The pan portion 21 may or may not include a horizontal flangesection (not shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, but as illustrated in FIGURE14) formed integrally with the side walls of the rim 22. As illustratedthe rim 22 is planar and forms an obtuse angle with the pan portion 21.The obtuse angle d formed between the rim 12 and the pan 11 of the frame10 may be the same as the obtuse angle 1) formed between the rim 22 andthe pan 21 of the tray 20. However, as shown in FIGURE 3, the angle a islarger than the angle b for reasons described hereinafter.

In utilizing the frame arrangement shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, theproduct to be packaged characterized by the numeral 30 is centered onthe pan portion 14 of the frame 10 and the frame 20 is then placed downover the product 30 so as to cause the rim portions 22 of the frame 20to nest against and contiguous to the rim por tion 12 of the frame 10.In so doing, the flexible sheet 23 forming the pan portion of the frame20 is made to overlie the product 3i} and where it has a stretchablecharacteristic to conform generally to the configuration of the product30. When in place and as best shown by FIGURE 1, the upper end of therim 22 of the frame 20 locks against the under face of the lip 13 on therim portion 12 of the frame 10. Thus, the meat is packaged in a systemthat is mechanically locked against easy opening and forces are appliedagainst the product to maintain it in position in the package.

The forces applied against the product 30 to maintain it in position onthe frame 10 are, as best shown in FIG- URE 1, derived primarily throughthe dynamic action of the sheet 23 on the rim 22 of the frame 20. Wherethe sheet 23 is a stretchable film, the film itself expands in a mannerso as to accommodate the volume of the meat and to exert the restrainingpressure upon it.

Of course, it may be that it is preferred not to use a stretchable filmor to use a film of a greater thickness wherein the amount of stretch isactually limited. In such case, the necessary flexibility in volumecapacity for the package is achieved from a fiexnre in the rim portion22 of the frame 20. Specifically, and as shown in FIGURE 3, if thedimension of the pan portion 11 of the frame 10 is selected to be c,then the outside dimension of the pan 21 of the frame 20, including thewall thickness of the rim portion 22 at its bottom 24 should be selectedto be of a dimension d greater than the dimension 0. In thiscircumstance and as previously referred to, the obtuse angle b betweenthe pan 21 and the rim 22 of the frame 20 would be less than the obtuseangle a between the pan 11 and the rim 12 of the frame 10. Thus, whenthe frame 20 is nested into the frame 10*, and the film 23 overlies andconforms to the product 39, a compressive force is applied to the bottomportion 24 of the rim 22 pulling that portion toward the center of thepan 21 and providing necessary slack in the film 23 for overlying theproduct 30. By the same action, the upper portion 25 of the rim 22 issubjected to tensile forces tending to move the upper portions thereofaway from the center of the frame 20 and expanding that dimension. Thus,the film 23 forming the pan portion 21 of the frame 20 overlies andconforms to the product 30,

the upper portion 25 of the rim 22 is forced outwardly against the sidewalls of the pan portion 12 of the frame It) and under the lip 13 formedthereon. Thus, the frame 20 is securely locked into nesting positionwithin the frame 10, and the more bulky the product 30, the greater thetension in the film 23, and correspondingly the greater the expansiveforces on the upper portion 25 of the rim 22 and the greater the lockingaction between the two frames. It is obvious, of course, that this typeof function requires that the rim 22 of the frame 20 is made of aflexible material which can respond to both compressive and tensileforces, and in that regard where flexible materials are employed forboth frames 10 and 20, that the two frames may be hinged together forfolding along a hinge line such as line 26 in FIGURE 2.

Although FIGURE 3 is described in terms of the frame 20 being responsiveto forces applied thereto, it is obvious that the invention is notlimited to that concept and that the frame 20 can be formed so as to fitprecisely within the dimensions provided on the inner surface of the rim12 of the frame 10. In some circumstances it may prove of advantage toemploy for the rim 22 of the frame 20 a rigid or semi-rigid materialsuch as a plastic or a paper, whereupon it would be desirable to use asheet 23 for the pan portion 21 which had a high capacity for stretch.

It has already been stated that the material used in the sheet 14comprising the pan of the frame 10 can be of a more rigid material andthe film forming the sheet 23 of the frame 20 can be a more flexiblematerial and preferably of the stretchable type. Where the trays are tobe utilized for the purposes of packaging meats, other characteristicsfor the sheets 14 and 23 are also important.

Meats are most attractive to the purchaser when it displays a bloomusually characterized by a deep red appearance. To keep the meatattractive, this bloom should be retained in the meat during what isconsidered to be a normal shelf time between first display and finalpurchase. Bloom retention is dependent upon the meat retaining itsmoisture and also upon it having provided to it an adequate amount ofoxygen. Accordingly, the ideal materials for both the sheets 14 and 23is material which will transmit air but not moisture, that is, materialhaving the characteristic of high gas transmission but low moisturevapor transmission.

Two examples of soft plastic films which display this characteristic ofhigh gas transmission and low vapor transmission and, therefore, whichare most adaptable for use in the packaging arrangements of theinvention, are polyethylene, hydrochloride and polyvinyl chloride. Whenthese are of the stretchable type, they are particularly well adapted tobe used as sheet 23 in the frame 20 and in a more heavier formation theyare adapted for use as a sheet 14 in a frame 10. As previouslymentioned, treated cellophanes could also be used for at least a sheet14 in the frame 10.

FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 show variations of the netsing arrangements that canbe employed for the otherwise general configuration shown in FIGURES 1,2 and 3. That is, in FIGURE 4 the frame 20A can be nested to the bottomframe 10A in a top to bottom abutting arrangement. In this configurationthe pair of frames are of identically the same linear dimensions. Theframes are permanently nested to one another at the abutting edge 35 bymeans of an adhesive of any suitable form.

FIGURE 5 shows a further variation in which the frame (20B is nestedwithin the tray 1013 in a side wall to side wall abutting relationshipand they are secured together, for example, by a crimped pin 37.

The arrangement of FIGURE 6 is more nearly similar to the arrangement ofFIGURE 1 except that both the frame 20C and the frame 10C include a panrim 22C and 12C. In this instance there is an inwardly extending lip orflange on the frame 20C and the two frames are secured together in thenested position by means of a suitable adhesive applied between thecontiguous surfaces of the films 23C and 11C.

The arrangements of FIGURES 7 and 8 show configurations in which theupper nesting frame, nests exterior to the lowermost frame.Specifically, in FIGURE 7 the upper frame 20D nests around the exteriorof the lower frame D so that the film portion 23D forms a cap or lid tothe package structure. As shown, each of the frames 10D and 20D includea corresponding notch 39 and projection 41, respectively, forinterlocking the two units. In the arrangement of FIGURE 8, the bottomframe 10B is provided at its upper edge with an outwardly extending lip13E and the top frame 20E is provided with an inwardly extending lip 43which is formed to underlie and interlock with the lip 13E. The film 23Foverlies the outside surface of the frame 20E.

The arrangement of FIGURE 9 is a further variation of the structure ofFIGURE 8, wherein the frame 10F has included a deep lip 13F that turnsback on itself and the frame .20F is a horizontal rim with an upwardlyextending flange 45, the flange of which fits into and interlocks withthe deep lip 13F. Here the film 23F overlies the outside surface of theframe 20F.

In the arrangements of FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 the top and/ or bottom framesare of a flexible construction to permit the top frames to be fittedover the bottom trays so that once interlocked the package must, for allpractical purposes, be destroyed to separate the parts. But in addition,as the films in each of the structures 23D, 23E and 23F, respectively,are stretched to accommodate a product that may extend above theuppermost level of the package structure, forces are exerted on theupper frames, 20D, 20E and 20F, respectively, and the correspondingbottom frames 10D, 10E and 10F, respectively, to cause the frame pairsto be more tightly interlocked against accidental opening.

FIGURES 10 and 11 show additional variations from the arrangements ofFIGURES 1 to 3, particularly as they might be applied to a prepackagingmaterial made of expandable polystyrene. In the arrangements of FIG-URES 10 and 11, the frame 60 is formed of a rim 61 having a downwardlocking projection 62 on its inner surface. At its bottom portion 63there is aflixed a sheet of film 64 which forms the cover for the frame.The nesting frame 70 is formed of a rim 71 which includes on its outersurface a correspondingly disposed notch 72 adapted to receive theprojection 62 from the frame 60 and is reinforced at its upper end 73and at its lower end 74. The purpose of the reinforcement at the ends 73and 74 is to prevent as much as possible any change in dimensions of theframe 70 responsive to the application of compressive and tensile forcestherein. Interlock between the two frames 60 and 70 is acheived byaction between the projection 62 and the notch 7.2.

The arrangement shown in FIGURE 12 is substantially the same as thatshown in FIGURE 11 with the frame 60A in FIGURE 12 being identical tothe frame 60 in FIG- URE 11. The frame 70A is modified only to theextent that the side wall is purposely bowed outwardly and the film 75extends up the outside wall of the rim 71A to the attachment area 76just below the notch 72A. This frame 70A is made of material which isflexible particularly in the midsection of the rim 71A.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 12 the mating of the frame 7A into theframe 6A causes a very tight fit between the two frames particularly atthe interlock between the projection 62A and the notch 72A. Further,stretching action in the sheet 75 in overlying the product to be coveredcauses forces to be applied to the outer wall of the rim 71A at the area76 thereby tending to move the midportion of the rim 71A in an outwarddirection. Thus, the tighter the film 75 is stretched over the productthe greater the tendency of the rim 71A to be expanded outwardly and thegreater the interlock between the projection 62A and the notch 72A.

A further variation of the same arrangement shown in FIGURE 13 whichmight be formed from a rigid or semirigid plastic. Therein the bottomframe 80 is formed in its rim 81 in an inward projection 82 and includesa cover film 83 attached thereto. The upper frame 90 at its rim 91includes at its upper end a strengthening bead 93 and at its lower end arigid strengthening bead 94. In its central portion the rim 91 isinwardly concave and includes in this formation an inward projection 92.At the same time the film 95 which forms the pan portion of the tray 90is carried around the bead 94 and up the external wall of the rim 91 andafi'ixed by means of adhesive or otherwise to the area 96 immediatelybelow the inward projection 92. In this configuration where the frame 90is formed of material of the resilient type, nesting of the frame 90into the frame 80 with the film 95 in stretched extension over a productto be packaged, a force is exerted on the outside wall of the rim 91 atthe area 96 by the film 95 actually moving the wall in the outwarddirection.

Thus, the wall of the rim 91 pops into an outer configuration asillustrated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 13. The rim 81 of the framelimits the movement of the rim 91 in the outward direction but in sodoing causes a tight fit between the two frames and 80.

The arrangement of FIGURE 14 is a further variation of the arrangementof FIGURE 1 in which the upper frame 20G is provided with an integrallyformed projection 28 ridged or headed to include a head as shown, and inwhich the lower frame 106 includes in it a correspondingly formed cavity18 into which the projection 28 flts and interlocks.

From the foregoing it is clear that there has been pro vided herewith anew and improved packaging system and various arrangements thereforwhich permits not only clean display of the products so packaged butalso the packaging may be accomplished entirely by manual means in aninexpensive yet expeditious way. The examples given herein are merely byway of illustration of the conception of the invention and it is clearthat many modifications and changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, it is intended to coverwithin the appended claims all such variations and changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A product display package comprising: a first frame structure, asecond frame structure, each of said frame structures being made up of arim portion and a cover portion, said cover portion of each of saidfirst and second frame structures being integrally connected to the rimportion thereof and including a sheet of light-transmitting load bearingmaterial, said first frame structure constituting a shallow tray forreceiving therein the product to be packaged and for which the rimportion extends outwardly from the bottom of the tray, said second framestructure constituting an enclosure for said first frame structure andfor which the rim portion carries the cover portion at the top thereofand for which the rim portion projects inwardly from its top to bottomof the enclosure, to overlie and to conform at its interior matingsurface to the rim portion of said first frame at its exterior matingsurface, one of said frame structure including a projection on themating surface of its rim portion, the other one of said framestructures including a receiving cavity on the mating surface of its rimportion, whereby upon nesting of said second frame structure onto saidfirst frame structure said package is unitarily locked at saidprojections and cavities.

2. The product display package set forth in claim 1 wherein the sheet ofmaterial in said second frame structure is of the stretchable type andupon being stretched in the packaging of a product exerts greaterlocking pressures between rim portions of the first and second traystructures.

3. A product display package comprising: a first frame structure, asecond frame structure, each of said frame structures being made up of arim portion and a cover portion, said cover portion of each of saidfirst and second frame structures being integrally connected to the rimportion thereof and including a sheet of light transmitting load bearingmaterial, said frame structures being formed so as to engage one anothercontiguously at the rim portions thereof with the cover portions thereofoverlying one another, and cooperating means at the contiguous rimportions for securing said first and second frame structures together,comprising interlocking projections and cavities, whereby a productsupported in said packaging arrangement between said cover portions ofsaid secured together first and second frame structures is retainedimmobile thereon by the tensions exerted thereon by said sheets.

4. A product display package comprising: a first frame structure, asecond frame structure, each of said frame structures being made up of arim portion and a cover portion, said cover portion of each of saidfirst and second frame structures being integrally connected to the rimportion thereof and including a sheet of light transmitting load bearingmaterial, said frame structures being formed so as to engage one anothercontiguously at the rim portions thereof with the cover portions thereofoverlying one another, and cooperating means at the contiguous rimportions for securing said first and second frame structures together,comprising pinning devices, whereby a product supported in saidpackaging arrangement between said cover portions of said securedtogether first and second frame structures is retained immobile there onby the tensions exerted thereon by said sheets.

5. A product display package comprising: a first frame structure, asecond frame structure, each of said frame structures being made up of arim portion and a cover portion, said cover portion of each of saidfirst and second frame structures being integrally connected to the rimportion thereof and including a sheet of light transmitting load bearingmaterial, said first frame structure constituting a shallow tray forreceiving therein the product to be packaged and for which the rimportion extends outwardly from the bottom of the tray, said second framestructure constituting a closure for said first frame structure and forwhich the rim portion carries the cover portion at the bottom thereofand for which the rim portion projects outwardly from its bottom to topto overlie and to conform at its exterior mating surface to the rimportion of said first frame at its interior mating surface, means at themating surfaces of the rim portions for securing said first and secondframe structures together, comprising a lip on said first framestructure which overlies the top of the rim portion of said second framestructure, whereby upon nesting of said second frame structure onto saidfirst frame structure said package is unitarily locked.

6. The product display package of claim 5 wherein said sheet of materialin said second frame structure is of the stretchable type and uponstretching of the sheet in the covering of a product expands the top ofthe rim portion of said second frame structure tightly under the lip ofsaid first frame structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080,125 5/1937 Frost 20645.322,134,908 11/1938 Copeman 21735 2,157,407 5/1939 Frost 20645.322,754,959 7/ 1956 McCarty 206-45.33

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Examiner.

1. A PRODUCT DISPLAY PACKAGE COMPRISING: A FIRST FRAME STRUCTURE, ASECOND FRAME STRUCTURE, EACH OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURES BEING MADE UP OF ARIM PORTION AND A COVER PORTION, SAID COVER PORTION OF EACH OF SAIDFIRST AND SECOND FRAME STRUCTURES BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO THE RIMPORTION THEREOF AND INCLUDING A SHEET OF LIGHT-TRANSMITTING LOAD BEARINGMATERIAL, SAID FIRST FRAME STRUCTURE CONSTITUTING A SHALLOW TRAY FORRECEIVING THEREIN THE PRODUCT TO BE PACKAGED AND FOR WHICH THE RIMPORTION EXTENDS OUTWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAY, SAID SECOND FRAMESTRUCTURE CONSTITUTING AN ENCLOSURE FOR SAID FIRST FRAME STRUCTURE ANDFOR WHICH THE RIM PORTION CARRIES THE COVER PORTION AT THE TOP THEREOFAND FOR WHICH THE RIM PORTION PROJECTS INWARDLY FROM ITS TOP TO BOTTOMOF THE ENCLOSURE, TO OVERLIE AND TO CONFORM AT ITS INTERIOR MATINGSURFACE TO THE RIM PORTION OF SAID FIRST FRAME AT ITS EXTERIOR MATINGSURFACE, ONE OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE INCLUDING A PROJECTION ON THEMATING SURFACE OF ITS RIM PORTION, THE OTHER ONE OF SAID FRAMESTRUCTURES INCLUDING A RECEIVING CAVITY ON THE MATING SURFACE OF ITS RIMPORTION, WHEREBY UPON NESTING OF SAID SECOND FRAME STRUCTURE ONTO SAIDFIRST FRAME STRUCTURE SAID PACKAGE IS UNITARILY LOCKED AT SAIDPROJECTIONS AND CAVITIES.